Nine people, including five children, were killed in an overnight stabbing in Paramaribo, police in Suriname said on Sunday. Officers wounded and arrested the suspect after he attacked police at the scene.
Police said the violence occurred in and around a residence on Hadji Iding Soemitaweg. The suspect killed four adults and five children with a sharp object, according to an official statement. A sixth child and another adult suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Officers who responded to emergency calls opened fire when the suspect charged at them with a weapon. He sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and remains hospitalised under police supervision. Authorities did not release his identity.
BREAKING: A knife attack outside Suriname's capital kills at least nine people, including children, police say. https://t.co/FrfxAUbjW5
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 28, 2025
Local media reported that four of the victims were the suspect’s own children. Neighbours told reporters that the man had shown signs of mental health issues. Reports also said he argued with his wife by phone shortly before the attack began.
Police said investigators are working to establish the full circumstances and sequence of events. “Further details regarding this tragic incident will follow,” the statement added.
Nine people, including five children, stabbed to death in Suriname https://t.co/6X2hUu7OPV
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 28, 2025
Suriname’s president, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, expressed condolences in a message posted on social media. She described the killings as a devastating reminder of human fragility and offered strength and comfort to families and communities affected by the loss. Authorities urged residents to seek support and cooperate with investigators as the inquiry continues.